The Chengdu Supercomputing Center is strategically situated in the heart of Luxi Zhigu within the Tianfu New Area of Chengdu. It neighbors the lush ecological zones of Xinglong Lake and Luxi River. This prime location, enriched with natural resources and a cluster of high-tech enterprise headquarters, reflects the emerging concept of a future park city.
In the new millennium, technology has increasingly become the cornerstone of urban development. Ranking among the world’s top ten supercomputers, the Chengdu Supercomputing Center significantly boosts big data processing capabilities and fosters the growth of smart industries, positioning the city as home to one of the most powerful “super brains” globally.
The Silicon Cube, a new symbol of technology, serves as the data center for traditional computing. This restricted area remains largely inaccessible and mysterious to the public. As the centerpiece of Science City, the modular supercomputer room spans five floors, measuring 20 meters in each dimension—length, width, and height—earning it the nickname “Silicon Cube.”
Its cubic exterior is clad in iridescent aluminum composite panels, enclosed within a massive glass cabinet framed by a cable-stayed curtain wall. Visitors can walk through the glass corridor to witness the impressive scale of one of the world’s top ten supercomputers. The vast, deep blue wall evokes the immersive atmosphere of a science fiction film.
Unlike a conventional closed research park, the Supercomputing Center is designed as an open space for the city—a technological totem accessible to all. Taking advantage of the site’s natural slope from south to north, the design balances openness with security.
At the upper level, a suspended skybridge allows visitors to traverse the entire site, establishing a clear visitor pathway. Below this, the area functions as a secured park with controlled access. This vertical separation ensures that public and restricted flows remain distinct and non-interfering.
A circular pedestrian bridge connects the northern lakeside park with the southern city roads. Through openings in the building volume, visitors enjoy views of the Silicon Cube and lakeshore.
Utilizing the site’s elevation change, a technology exhibition hall is planned beneath the Silicon Cube’s platform, welcoming citizens and students alike. Features such as a sunken plaza, circular pool, and walkway provide much-needed recreational spaces within the Science City district.
Integration of Curtain Wall Design and Light Show
The Silicon Cube’s massive glass enclosure features a large-span, single-cable-structured curtain wall system, ensuring a transparent and sleek exterior. This highly recognizable form embodies cutting-edge technology, establishing the building as a landmark and symbol of the technology city.
The power and operations buildings behind the Cube use double-layer curtain walls. Their outer layers are clad in square-grid aluminum panels, representing digital binary code—“0” and “1”—through the interplay of solid and perforated surfaces. The prominent silver-white corner volume marks the boundary of “ByteDance.”
At night, light becomes the language of information. A coordinated light show system integrated with the curtain wall units, combined with computer programming, creates dynamic displays of light and shadow. The Silicon Cube transforms into a gigantic evolving screen, a dazzling and mysterious “technology core” by the lake.
This spectacle has turned the Cube into Science City’s most striking landmark, symbolizing the optimism and energy of technological innovation and establishing a new icon for the future.
Project Plans and Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Location Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Functional Layout Analysis Diagram
△ Circulation Diagram
Project Details
Architectural Design: China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute
Area: 60,420 m²
Year of Completion: 2020
Photography: Existence of Architecture
Manufacturer: Alucobond
Lead Architects: Liu Yi, Chen Chengfa
Design Team: Li Zhongquan, Pu Jianchuan, Yu Shunchao, Zhou Jinwei, Jin Sheng, Liu Jia, Wang Yong, Han Shaowei, Zhang Guohao, Tang Haowen, Zhong Shihong, Nie Kun, Cai Honglin, He Qingsong, Wang Shibo, Zheng Yanjie, Zhao Feng, and others
Client: Chengdu Tianfu New Area Investment Group Co., Ltd
Construction Contractor: China Water Resources and Hydropower Seventh Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd
Landscape Design: Chengdu Black and White Landscape Planning and Design Co., Ltd
Lighting Design: Yongqi Light and Shadow Digital Technology Co., Ltd
Location: Chengdu, China
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